Reedsburg, Wis. – Oct. 8, 2025 – Robert Whitney joined the Hankscraft Contract Manufacturing team as Senior Sales Engineer earlier this year. With 30+ years of experience in sales and customer relationship development, Robert works with a service-driven mindset as he brings Hankscraft’s value in manufacturing program management to clients.
A Mindset of Service
Early in his career, Robert’s supervisor told him to put sticky notes all over his house with one word on them: ‘Servant.’ That message became a guiding principle for Robert. “As a servant, you aren’t there to tell the client how to run their business,” said Robert. “You are there to find their need and serve them.”
Guided by Midwestern values of honesty, humility, and direct communication, Robert believes success starts with transparency. “It is a privilege to work for a company that operates honestly,” said Robert. “Hankscraft offers a lot for customers, from supply chain management to final assembly and more, but the company is also realistic. If a client’s program is not a good fit for us, that is communicated up front.”
Lasting Relationships Form Valuable Partnerships
Robert built a diverse career, serving clients from architects and medical professionals to homeowners, managing national accounts for international companies, and spearheading local startups.
Robert measures his professional success through the strength of his client relationships. “If you put your client’s needs at least equal to your own, that resonates no matter where you do business,” said Robert.
“A partnership is defined by how a company works with you through difficulty,” said Robert. “Strong business relationships are built through problem-solving.”
Robert recognizes that Hankscraft operates with a partnership mentality. “What is good for our customers is almost always good for us,” said Robert. “When you work that way, the result is rewarding for everyone involved.